My adorable cat is strictly an indoor cat.
Whenever another cat comes to the house (on the patio or whatever) she meows in this deep, guttural way at it and her tail puffs up really high. She seems to be excited, she may be defending her territory, I can't really tell.
The icing on the cake, though is ALWAYS after the cat leaves and I go near her...she hisses at me!
She'll hiss at me and run away.
Why does she do this?
What do I do when she does this?
She has no problem understanding me when I correct her for anything else, she is like a kid in that she actually responds with a meow if I have to correct her. ( I speak to her in a stern voice)
She listens very well.
I spoke to her in a stern voice after she hissed at me, but I felt badly because I don't know if I was wrong to correct her for something that may be her natural instinct.
2006-08-31 12:22:39 · 18 answers · asked by Sixth_Sense 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
Cats are VERY territorial. Indoor cats twice as much. If they see a cat outside the territorial thing kicks in PLUS it cannot get out the other cat to at least sniff it and fight it so it gets more frustrated.
Don't take it personally - she's not angry at you just lashing out since she's so upset.
If you have indoor cats, it is never a good idea to encourage other cats to come around your house. Always shoo them away. You don't want stray males marking your house as their territory as they try to impress your female cat.
2006-08-31 12:28:35 · answer #1 · answered by Alberto 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
She is protecting herself and her territory when she growls and hisses at other cats. The reason her hair stands up is that it makes the cat look twice as large to anything it feels threatened by. It's her instinct telling her to do these things when there are other animals around her, but you shouldn't allow her to hiss at you when company leaves. That's her way of throwing a tantrum, and, like kids, you have to find a way to discipline them out of it. If she already listens to you when you correct her, you shouldn't have much trouble with her learning what's going on.
2006-08-31 12:31:33 · answer #2 · answered by CruelChick 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
She's "defending" her territory against these other cats.
Cats will growl, and also puff up their fur to appear bigger to their agressor, which is why her tail is puffy.
Most likely, she hisses at you because she's still in defense mode. Speak to her softly and comfort her, or just leave her be for a few minutes until she calms down. Once she forgets about the other cat she'll be fine.
2006-08-31 12:28:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anne-Arky 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That behavior indicates your cat doesn't like the other cat there...she's defending her territory. Cats will stay riled up for hours, sometimes days when something upsets them. The best thing to do is just leave her alone afterwards, she'll calm down quicker and you'll be less likely to get attacked. If you're able, I would suggest putting something up to block your cat's view of the other cat.
2006-08-31 12:29:58 · answer #4 · answered by talented mrs v 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Madame is defending her territory and is freaked out at the same time. She doesn't mean to hiss at you, but she's frightened by another cat. My Sasha does the same thing...he'll puff up and lay his ears back and then hiss at Mom when I try and move him. usually I just speak to him in a regular tone of voice and let him get over "puff-mode" (Of course Sasha has cornered a German Shepard recently and thinks very highly of himself). Just speak to your Baby gently and let her know you're right there.
If, on the otherhand, she goes to bat at you more than once, take her gently but firmly by the scruff and shake her once firmly (no, I don't mean hard, just *firm*) Mom cats do this to Kittens when the kids are getting out of control. That should take care of things.
2006-08-31 12:34:22 · answer #5 · answered by Mama Otter 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My cat does the exact same thing, but he also does it with birds, squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons and any other animal that comes around, i think it is a territory think (he paws at the window to try at get to the, it's kinda cute really). I think it is best u correct her when she hisses at u, it is OK for her to hiss at other animals, but she has to understand that u are the boss and won't be treated the same
2006-08-31 12:32:03 · answer #6 · answered by bobatemydog 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree with everyone else. She was guarding her territory and was still a little mad when you approached her. I think that cats have feelings much like humans to an extent. Like, one day, our cat did fell off of something while trying to jump on it and we laughed at her and she put her head and tail down and slumped off as if we'd hurt her feelings by laughing. I don't think it was wrong to be stern with her. Ours is like a kid too, has to be scolded. So, I think it was ok.
2006-08-31 15:18:05 · answer #7 · answered by april22703 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
She's protecting her territory. Since she can't go out you'll have to run off all the other cats that come around or they'll start spraying urine on your doors and windows to mark the territory theirs. Not a fun thing to have to clean up.
2006-08-31 12:35:10 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Shes going into fighting mode.
When she does that, Its probably best just to tell her to STOP.
Going near her will only turn her aggression toward you.
Just leave her be after she stops hissing.
She'll calm down on her own.
2006-08-31 12:28:49 · answer #9 · answered by James F 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
she's probably scared of the other cat so she shifts into a defensive mode, and when you approach her she is still in the defensive mode.
or maybe she feels mad at you that you let another cat get close to the house.
2006-08-31 12:26:38 · answer #10 · answered by a_blue_grey_mist 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋